Blog Posts: timber

China is the world’s largest single-country importer of soy, beef and timber, products that drive tropical deforestation. New research shows why the time is right for China to green its commodity value chains.

As we approach the Year of the Rat and begin a new 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac, three profound challenges face the world: how to build a more stable and efficient trading system, tackle climate change and protect biodiversity. China has a pivotal role to play in all three.

We tested 73 wood products from well-known US retailers. More than half the time, the wood wasn't even the species it was labeled to be.

China, the world's largest importer and consumer of timber products, has emerged as a leader in global environmental governance. It still has an opportunity to match that leadership in global efforts to protect forests.

Despite recent policies, Indonesia is still losing billions from unreported and illegally sourced timber. Tougher law enforcement could help.

Rosewoods and other exotic timbers have long been a staple for high-end guitars. With new U.S. and international rules regulating their use, guitar makers are figuring out how to adapt.

The UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) surprised many on October 4th by extending long-overdue protections for more than 250 species of rosewood, a timber rapidly being harvested to commercial extinction. The move will help maintain healthy tropical forest ecosystems and provide important resources for forest-dependent communities.

Rosewood is prized for use in guitar fretboards, but widespread trafficking demands stricter attention to protection.

The illegal logging trade steals valuable natural resources and undercuts companies' profitability. That's why businesses and governments are turning to new technology applications to expose illicitly harvested lumber.

China's overseas investment grew from $1 billion in 2004 to more than $30 billion in 2014. In many cases, it's come at a cost to Africa's forests and the people who rely on them.